The Perfect Work Bag!

As a second year med student, more opportunities to go to the hospital and interact with patients arise. For this reason, I am more in need of not only appropriate wardrobe, but also a work bag. Most importantly one that will fit everything I may need, but still meet professional standards. I have searched for a while but came up shorthanded. Well, in less than a month I have discovered two brands that are marketed to do just that, be the perfect work bag for working women.

As medical students, we do not “work” per se. But, we still need to meet standards for appearance as professional women. We all know the bag you carry says a lot about you. Let’s think about this for a minute, what do we need to carry with us on such a visit and third year rotations? You need a tablet or laptop, a pocket reference books, a change of shoes and/or clothes (scrubs), clipboard, hand sanitizer, wallet/coin purse for money, makeup bag, pens and highlighters, stethoscope, penlight, a coffee mug or water bottle, and maybe more.

Having that in mind, think about all those things and the size of the bag you might need to fit all that. There are many designer bags that people buy/get. These are usually big tote bags. But, let’s be real, everything will just be floating around in that huge purse! In reality, finding anything might be the difference between you and a male classmate making a good impression on your attending.

So after a long search, my prayers have been answered! I have found these 2 brands that are blowing my mind. They have been developed by working women who have faced the same struggles in various industries. Collectively, they took a stand and said no more. They took matters into their own hands and have developed beautiful and amazing handbags. These bags are especially designed for the working woman who needs to have everything on hand, but still look stylish and appropriate.

JEMMA Bag

I found about JEMMA bags because they followed me on Instagram and I wandered over to their page and saw gorgeous, classic style handbags. As a result, I ventured onto their website and emailed them about information for doing this post. The very next day their Founder & CEO Joanna had already replied to my email with all the information I needed.

Her response was so clear and simplistic that I will insert most of it, so you can understand what I mean through her passionate words.

We are a new direct to consumer handbag brand distinctly crafted for the working woman who appreciates classic elegance and sensibility. We are based in New York. The brand was founded with my work life in mind. I was previously in the finance industry and my daily problem was not having a proper work bag that I could confidently carry to work that not only met my working needs but had the appropriate color, quality and professionalism. I found myself having to constantly accommodate to the constraints of my handbag, instead of the other way around. My girlfriends and colleagues had similar experiences, so I knew this was a void that needed to be filled. Moreover, designer handbags simply should not cost $1000+. By intelligent sourcing, designing in-house and selling directly to customers online, JEMMA is able to provide high quality leather handbags with the right functionality at a fraction of the price.

JEMMA’s two debut styles, dubbed “The Work Bag” and “The Life Bag”, are inspired by working women’s constant pursuit of a work-life balance. The leather handbags feature streamlined, feminine construction and thoughtfully designed inner organization for everything the modern woman needs. The Work Bag fits up to a 15inch laptop and has leather pockets for cellphone, pen, lipstick, credit cards and a sleeve at the back wall for an iPad or wallet. The Life Bag is perfect for a night out or weekend brunch, with leather pockets for cellphone, lipstick, credit cards and a cross-body strap.

I am completely in love with these bags! I cannot wait to purchase one for myself (I promise to do a review on it as soon as I get it). They range from $358 -$398 and are currently available in 3 colors per style. As an added bonus they provide free shipping. The company just started out November 2015 and some bags are continuously selling out. I recommend you check them out and give them a try. If you do get your hands on one of these beauties, please let me know! Some time later and I am still very much looking forward to getting one. At Jemma Girl NYC they sure have the right idea for what we as working women need!

They are so elegant and classic, from the colors, to the accessories and even the designs themselves, these bags will certainly complete any look.

Dagne Dover

I found out about Dagne Dover bags on New Year’s Eve 2015. My cousin just got one for Christmas and I just have to say they are amazing. They are a little more casual looking than the JEMMA bags, but they are still professionally appropriate. On one hand, they are better suited for students as well a working women, they are big and waterproof. Additionally, have several styles for different sizes of laptops and they have another style specifically for tablet users. On the other hand, they have released wallets and other accessories that you can combine with your bag.

Their philosophy is:

At Dagne Dover, our philosophy is, “You are what you carry.” A cavernous black-hole bag makes you feel just as disorganized as its contents—but a sophisticated, organized handbag makes you feel ready for anything.

So we set out to design a bag that would help you feel like you’ve always got it together. Let Dagne Dover shoulder the burden so you can focus on the things that really matter. (And find your MetroCard without missing your train.)

I think these bags are a dream come true! They are good for school or work. Their classic bags are stylish yet they fit everything you might need in one place. Prices range from $245 to $495 and they have a ton of color options. Every season they have sales of the past seasons pieces and they also offer free shipping. The classic totes feature a special pocket for an umbrella or water bottle. This pocket is coated to prevent other things in your purse to get wet/moist.

Here you have it! Two amazing and stylish work bag options designed for working women, by working women. They have a variety of prices and different looks. From more casual to more classic and elegant, you are sure to find something for your style. Any of these bags would be a great addition to any collection for any professional from business to law, to politics and medicine. So, whether you need a more elegant or casual look, they are very promising products.

Thanks for reading!

XO

Jani

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated or sponsored by either of these companies. I found out about them and I think their products are great so I wanted to share and spread the knowledge of these amazing products because I know how hard it can be to find a good bag for work.

Related

11 responses to “The Perfect Work Bag!”

Absolutely fabulous choices, this is something so many women struggle with! I’m in my final year and still haven’t found the perfect bag. These options will definitely be on my birthday wishlist in the hopes that somebody who loves me will help me to look more professional!
M
x

I’ve been eyeing a Dange Dover for a little while now. I love/have to have things organized and all the pockets just make me so happy. Ivanka Trump just came out with a great work tote too, but boy is it pricey! (It’s called the Soho tote if you want to google!)

I absolutely love both of these bags! I love how organized and functional for day to day use. My current handbags are such a mess on the inside- I’m always digging around looking for my credit cards, bobby pins, etc.

[…] For JEMMA, the most important part of the brand is our community – to allow our customers (#JEMMAGirl) from varied backgrounds and experiences to bond over their similar taste in fashion. I am delighted to share with you a lovely blog post written by #JEMMAGirl, Jani Vivaldi. View Here. […]

[…] Last year I got my first Michael Kors for Christmas, and my second a few months later. I absolutely love them. The second one I got for a steal at a Macy’s sale and it came out at $70 from a retail of over $200. I use it almost all the time because it gives any outfit a pop of color and it’s the perfect size for any day. The first one was a gift from my mom and it’s a classic gray tote and I love it for the clinic and any professional setting. The only con is that it can get a little heavy. This year, since I am in rotations and I have classes, and need to carry a lot of equipment, I got a bag specific for my needs this year, and that has it’s own post here and here. […]

[…] Carryall From Dagne Dover InstagramNow you all remember one of my first ever posts was comparing 2 bags for the working woman. After that post I managed to get my hands on the Classic 13″ Tote during an end of […]